Grammy-Winning Violinist Mads Tolling with Jacob Fischer
Masters of Jazz Violin
Denmark has proud traditions, when it comes to playing jazz violin. Svend Asmussen was very loved all over Scandinavia, and even in the US many know of “The Fiddling Viking.” Residing in San Francisco – Danish-born violinist Mads Tolling is making a career in music. Mads has lived in the US since 2000, where he began his studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Soon after graduating he was discovered by French Jazz violinist, Jean-Luc Ponty, who recommended him to join bassist Stanley Clarke’s band. This encounter led to eight years of international touring and recording with Clarke. Mads has performed with some of the biggest names in jazz including Ramsey Lewis, Kenny Barron, Chick Corea, Paquito D’Rivera, and he has won two Grammy Awards as part of the string group, Turtle Island Quartet.
Ever since Mads as a 15-year-old called up Svend Asmussen, the two of them have stayed in contact till Svend’s passing last year. Back then Svend told Mads to listen to violinist Stuff Smith, and he soon after donated a large chunk of his music collection to Mads – including many handwritten charts.
Joining Mads Tolling this evening is Danish guitarist Jacob Fischer. Jacob is one of the premiere jazz guitarists in Europe, and many compare him to the great Django Reinhardt. Jacob was a member of Svend Asmussen’s quartet for the last 20 years of Svend’s life, and has played with Toots Thielemans, Harry Allen and Bucky Pizzarelli. Mads and Jacob connected in 2014, when Mads put a new quartet together to tour Scandinavia. The two of them have performed over one hundred concerts in Northern Europe.
Tonight’s program will feature music composed and played by the jazz violinists that inspired Mads in his musical pursuit, including Stephane Grappelli, Jean-Luc Ponty, Stuff Smith, Joe Venuti and Svend Asmussen. The set will include vibrant arrangements of jazz standards along with a few Danish folk songs.
Mads Tolling and Jacob Fischer have released an album that will be available on this tour of the US and Canada: Celebrating Svend Asmussen.
